1. RH/OAQ/April 2004 Conference of SAGW/OAQ in Bern, 29 April 2004 Speech Rolf Heusser - procedure:  Presentation of OAQ including its international co-operations  Two functions of OAQ: audits/evaluation versus accreditation  The Swiss accreditation system in higher education

2. RH/OAQ/April 2004 The Center for Accreditation and Quality Assurance of the Swiss Universities (OAQ)  Established in October 2001  Based on legal act  Mission: assure and promote the quality of education and research of the Swiss universities  Business office and scientific advisory board; autonomy in working process

3. RH/OAQ/April 2004 National Agencies for Accreditation and Quality Assurance in Europe, 2004 Evaluations / Audits Accreditations

4. RH/OAQ/April 2004 OAQ - International Co-operations Memberships:  European Network for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA)  European Consortium for Accreditation (ECA)  D-A-CH Network: Cooperation Agreement (DACH)  Joint Quality Initiative (JQI)  International Network of Quality Assurance in Higher Education (INQAAHE)

5. RH/OAQ/April 2004 OAQ - Core Functions Accreditation Set up guidelines and standards Accreditation of institutions and/or programs) Information Accreditation Quality Assurance Related topics Quality Assurance Quality audits/evaluations (recognition procedure) Services

6. RH/OAQ/April 2004 Accreditation and Evaluation – Differences AccreditationEvaluation Purpose:Mobility Learner protection Accountability Self reflection Quality improvement Approach:Fitness of purposeFitness for purpose Target audience:PublicHE-Institutions Outcome:Yes / no decisionRecommendations for development

7. RH/OAQ/April 2004 Accreditation and Evaluation – Similarities  Same methods, same procedures  Same experts  Same examination domains/same questions  Accreditation is always based on evaluations  Accreditation can be seen as a formal endpoint of an evaluation process

8. RH/OAQ/April 2004 External QA at Swiss Public Universities QA-System Quality audits: (mandatory) Accreditations (voluntary) University Faculties / departments Study programs OAQ

9. RH/OAQ/April 2004 The Swiss Accreditation System in Higher Education

10. RH/OAQ/April 2004 Accreditation - Definition  Formal and transparent procedure of quality assessment  Carried out by independent institution, using predefined quality standards  Multistep evaluation procedure, leading to yes/no decision

11. RH/OAQ/April 2004 Accreditation - Concept  Accreditation procedures and quality standards based on international best practices  Accreditation of academic institutions and / or programs (public and private)  Focus on education/teaching  Voluntary system: accreditations on demand of institutions

12. RH/OAQ/April 2004 Accreditation - Procedure  First step:Self-evaluation by unit seeking accreditation  Second step:External evaluation / on-site visit by independent experts  Third step:Decision, based on assessment of predetermined quality standards

13. RH/OAQ/April 2004 Accreditation - Quality standards  Defined and published quality standards  According to best international practices  Generic standards, mainly process oriented  No standards on content of study programs  Addition of specific standards possible

14. RH/OAQ/April 2004 Accreditation - On site visit  3 - 5 experts/peers, chosen by OAQ in consensus with unit undergoing accreditation  Selection criteria published (e.g. independency)  Briefing of experts prior to visit  Two days on site visit  report of expert group

15. RH/OAQ/April 2004 Accreditation - Decision  The Swiss University Conference decides on proposition of OAQ  Decisions: yes / no / yes under certain conditions  Appeals: independent court  Unconditional accreditation is granted for 7 years

16. RH/OAQ/April 2004 Accreditation - Time needed and Costs  Accreditation process: 8 - 9 months duration  Time to complete self-evaluation report: 3 months  Costs are covered by OAQ for public universities (excluding self-evaluation phase)  Full costs to be payed by private institutions: 30’000 - 40’000 CHFr.

17. RH/OAQ/April 2004 Accreditation - Strengths  Formal and transparent character of quality assessment  Yes or no decision  Allows an international comparison of quality of programs / institutions

18. RH/OAQ/April 2004 Accreditation - Benefits  Increases competitiveness of accredited units  Facilitates international recognition of diploma  Improves orientation for students, employers and society  Stimulates quality improvement efforts in institutions

19. RH/OAQ/April 2004 Accreditation – Status 2004  Guidelines, criteria and instruments developped  International compatibility of Swiss accreditation system confirmed  Five procedures completed, 11 procedures started in 2004 (public and private universitary institutions)  2005 ff: accreditation of “Fachhochschulen” (?)  Strong efforts to reach mutual recognition of accreditation decisions within Europe

20. RH/OAQ/April 2004 Further Information about OAQ: Requests and information:  e-mail: Rolf Heusser or info@oaq.ch  Telephone: ++41 31 380 11 50  Website: www.oaq.ch